Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826 Volume I Part 20

[K.]

119.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

The song "Germania" belongs to the whole world who sympathize with the subject, and to you beyond all others, just as I myself am wholly yours. I wish you a good journey to Palermo.

[K.]

120.

TO TREITSCHKE.

March, 1814.

MY DEAR, WORTHY T.,--

I have read with the greatest satisfaction your amendments of the Opera ["Fidelio" which was about to be again performed]. It has decided me once more to rebuild the desolate ruins of an ancient fortress.

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

121.

TO TREITSCHKE.

The affair of the Opera is the most troublesome in the world, and there is scarcely one part of it which quite satisfies me now, and that I have not been obliged to _amend by something more satisfactory_. But what a difference between this, and giving one's self up to freely flowing thought and inspiration!

122.

TO TREITSCHKE.

1814.

I request, my dear T., that you will send me the score of the song [in "Fidelio," _Geld ist eine schone Sache_], that the interpolated notes may be transcribed in all the instrumental parts; though I shall not take it at all amiss if you prefer that Girowetz or any other person, perhaps Weinmuller [who sang the part of Rocco], should do so. This I have nothing to say against, but I will not suffer my composition to be altered by any one whatever, be he who he may.

I am, with high consideration,

Your obedient

BEETHOVEN.

123.

TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.[1]

MY DEAR COUNT,--

If you wish to attend our council [about the alterations in "Fidelio"], I beg to inform you that it a.s.sembles this afternoon at half-past three o'clock, in the Spielmann Haus, auf dem Graben, No. 188, 4th Etage, at Herr Weinmuller's. I shall be very glad if you have leisure to be present.

[Footnote 1: The mention of Weinmuller decides the date of this note, as it was in the spring of 1814 that he, together with the singers Saal and Vogl, brought about the revival of _Fidelio_.]

124.

TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.[1]

My dear, victorious, and yet sometimes nonplussed (?) Count! I hope that you rested well, most precious and charming of all Counts! Oh! most beloved and unparalleled Count! most fascinating and prodigious Count!

[Music: Treble clef, E-flat Major, 2/2 time.

Graf Graf Graf Graf (in 3-part harmony) Graf (in 3-part counterpoint) Graf Graf Graf, liebster Graf, liebstes Schaf, bester Graf, bestes Schaf! Schaf! Schaf!]

(_To be repeated at pleasure_.)

At what hour shall we call on Walter to-day? My going or not depends entirely on you. Your

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: In Schindler's _Beethoven's Nachla.s.s_ there is also an autograph Canon of Beethoven's in F major, 6/8, on Count Lichnowsky, on the words, _Bester Herr Graf, Sie sind ein Schaf_, written (according to Schindler) Feb. 20th, 1823, in the coffee-house "Die Goldne Birne," in the Landstra.s.se, where Beethoven usually went every evening, though he generally slipped in by the backdoor.]

125.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

I hope you forgive me for not having come to you. Your displeasure would be totally undeserved, and I will amply compensate for lost time in a few days. My Opera of "Fidelio"[1] is again to be performed, which gives me a great deal to do; moreover, though I look well, I am not so in reality. The arrangements for my second concert[2] are partly completed. I must write something new for Mdlle. Milder.[3] Meanwhile it is a consolation to me to hear that Y.R.H. is so much better. I hope I am not too sanguine in thinking that I shall soon be able to contribute towards this. I have taken the liberty to apprise my Lord Falstaff[4] that he is ere long to have the honor of appearing before Y.R.H.

[K.]

[Footnote 1: Letters 125 and 126 refer to the revival of the Opera of _Fidelio_, which had not been given since 1806, and was not again produced on the stage till the 23d May, 1814, in the Karnthnerthor Theatre.

Beethoven's benefit took place on the 8th July, two newly composed pieces being inserted.]

[Footnote 2: Beethoven gave a concert on the 2d January, 1814, when _Wellington's Victory_ was performed, and on the 26th March another for the benefit of the Theatrical Fund, at which the _Overture to Egmont_ and _Wellingtons's Victory_ were given, directed by Beethoven himself.]

[Footnote 3: Anna Milder, Royal Court opera singer, a pupil of Vogl's, who first sang the part of Leonore in _Fidelio_.]

[Footnote 4: By "my Lord Falstaff" he means the corpulent violinist Schuppanzigh.]